Politeuphuia VVits common wealth.

Of Brauery.

Defi. Brauerie is a ri••tous excesse, eyther in apparrell or other ornament; it is also a part of pride, and contrarie to decencie and comli∣nesse.

EXcesse of brauery, brings a man of much wealth quickly to pouerty.

Pride ioyned with many vertues, choakes them all.

They that rather delight to decke their bo∣dies then theyr soules, seeme men rather cre∣ated for theyr bodyes then theyr soules.

Excesse in vanity hath neuer end.

Theft or violent death, euer waiteth at the heeles of excesse.

They neuer can be carefull to keep a meane in husbanding other mens wealth, which are carelesse in bestowing theyr owne substance vpon excesse.

To spend much beyond power, and hope much vpon promises, make many men beg∣gers which were left wealthy.

He that imployeth his substance in brauery, is the Meercers friend, the Taylers foole, and his owne foe.

The cause why brauerie is so much estee∣med, is the respect the worlde taketh of the out-ward appearance, and neglect of the in∣ward excellence.

Howe vaine a thing is brauerie? vvhich is borrowed from the wormes, laboured by the hands, bought with much charge, & desa••st with euery spot.

There are three things that cost deerely, & consume quickly; a faire vvoman that is vn∣chast, a rich garment that hath many cuts, & a wealthy stocke on an ili husband.

A foole clothed in a gaie garment, if hee get any curtesie, may thanke his weede, and not his wit. Archim.

All outward ornaments are toyes of vanity, but an humble spirit is a token of pietie.

As the weede cannot be esteemed precious for the faire flower which it beareth, so ought no man to be accounted vertuous, for the gay garment which he weareth.

Building may be ouerthrown with vvinde, apparrell consumed with moaths; vvhat fol∣lie is it then for men, to delight in that vvhich the light wind can wast, and the small worme destroy?

Epaminondas frugalitie, made him to be ad∣mired, where the excesse of Alcibiades caused

him to be suspected.

VVhy should man be proude of his appar∣rell, seeing the flowers haue better collours, the Spiders haue finer threds, and the Musk∣cats sweeter excrements?

Rich clothes are beggers weeds to a discon∣tented minde.

Brauery of apparrell is nothing vvorth, if the minde be miserable.

Desire of that we cannot get, torments vs, hope of that we may haue, comforts vs, and the brauery of that we possesse, makes vs be∣come proude.

As oyle being cast vppon the fire, quench∣eth not the flame; so brauery bestowed vp∣pon the body, neuer humbleth the soule.

As it is no wisedome, in admiring the scab∣bard to despise the blade; so it is meere folly, to prayse a man for his brauery, and discom∣mend him for his decencie.

Raine can neuer cause that Come to bring forth any fruite, vvhich is sowne vpon harde stones; nor speech cannot perswade a proud man to become an enemy to braue apparrell.

Gorgious garments are markes of pride, & nests of riotousnes.

As a man woulde iudge one to be ill at ease, which weareth a plaister vpon his face, or one

that hath beene scourged, to bee punished by the lawe; so doth painting betoken a diseased soule, marked with adultery. Clem. Alex.

The auncient Fathers called it a corruption or staine, if many colours were mingled to∣gether.

Homer writing of a peece of Iuory that was coloured, sayde that it was polluted with a stayne.

Horace called Lentiscus a lyar, because hee blacked his hayre.

VVoe to that beautie which sleepeth not with the face.

If by the ciuill law the chylde may haue an action of the case, against him which shall de∣face the portract of his father; vve well ima∣gin how much it displeaseth God, if by arti∣ficiall paynting we seeke to correct his work∣manshyp.

Painting hastens wrinckles before olde age come. Chriso.

Those which are curious in decking of the body, despise the care of theyr soule.

All kinde of painting, artificiall garnishing, & colouring of hayre, was forbidden among the Spartans.

Splendida sit nolo, sordida nolo cutis.

Sint procul á nobis iuuenes, vt faemina, compti.